Heater



Jarvl- 6, 1942- c. E. MEYERHOEFER 2,268,762l

` HEATER Filed June 29,1937

7&1-, 7

' "IH l l! 1 .n IIIIIIFS BY MLYL, Kamp w- Smno:

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 6, 1942 HEATER Carl E. Meyerhoefer, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to E. A. Laboratories, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporationof New York Applcation'June 29,1937, Serial No. 150,962

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved heatexchange device capable of use in numerous different associations, butprimarily to be employed in connection with motor vehicles and for thepurpose of circulating and changing the condition of the -air within thesame.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a structure of thischaracter and by means of which a maximum flow of air will occur withoutit being necessary to increase the size or speed of the motor or theimpellers associatedtherewith.

A furtherl object is that of constructing4 a unit of this type and inwhich the ilow of air in circulation may be controlledin a novel anddesirable manner so that such air may be eiciently distributed ordirected in any desired direction.

Still another object is that of constructing a heat exchange unit whichwill embody relatively tubes 6. Moreover, the core is preferablyenclosed within a casing 'I 4having a central forward opening for thepassage of air. In the illustrated embodiment the mounting structure forthe unit has not been shown. This may follow the area of this opening isa fan II secured to few parts, eachvindividually simple and rugged e inconstruction, these parts occupying a minimum amount of space andcooperating with utmost`eiciency over long periods of time with freedomfrom all diiculties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attachedsheet of drawing illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention,and in which Fig. lis a sectional plan view taken along the lines I-Iand in the direction of the arrows as indicated inFig. 2, but with themotor casing, fan, and core shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of such unit, and

Fig. '-3 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken along the lines 3-3and in the direction of the' arrows as indicated in Fig. 2|.

A unit of the present type is primarily intended for use as aheater andit is also intended to be employed Within a motor Vehicle. In suchassociation it is usually mounted under the dash of the vehicle andsuitably connected with the cooling system of the motor. In view of thefact that this is common practice, no illustration thereof has beenresorted to. At the same time it is to be understood that the presentinvention may be employed in associations other than the particularexample afore noted.

Referring to thel drawing, the numeral`5 indicates the upper header fromwhich any suitable heaty exchange structure kextends and which-structure is, in turn, connected with a lower header'. This core unitis coupled to a source of iluid, having-'a vtemperature differential,inl anydesired manner as, for example, by employing the shaft of motors.Also secured to the shaft is the forward element or spider I2 of ablower wheel including an annular series of blades I3 preferably curvedin section andwhich blades have their 'rear edges conveniently coupledby a ring I4 concentricallydisposed with respect to -m'otor 8. It willbe noted as a consequence of this construction thatthe blower wheel is,in effect telescoped over the motor casing so that an extremely compactarrangement of the parts is presented and additionally air lmpelled bythe blower wheel moves in contact with the casing of of the blowerwheel.

the motor. Y

vEnclosingthe blower wheel is a casing or channel member I5, the forwardwall I6 of which, in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention, is preferably inclined outwardly and terminates in aninwardly extending flange Il. This flange denes a central openingconcentrically disposed with reference'to the periphery While, ofcourse, the dimensions may be varied in numerous respects, I have foundthat one satisfactory arrangement of the parts consists in having thediameter of the opening dened by flange Il one thirty-second of an inchgreater than the diameter of the blower wheel and having the blowerwheel spaced.

from this opening (the inner edge of the ange or its equivalent) adistance of one-sixteenth of an inch. l Y

At this time it will be observed that spider I2 extends at all pointseither in line with the point of juncture of channel member I5 andforward `wa11 I6 or else beyond such point of juncture into the spacedefinedv by such wall. vThis is particularly shown in Fig. -1, if onewill consider the right hand and left hand portions of the blower wheelas there shown, and their relationship to the channel member and itsassociated parts. It accordingly follows that high velocity airdistributed by the blower wheel is thrown out radially and (at leastadjacent the wall I6) inwardly, toward the central portion of channelmember I5. As a consequence a vacuum will be created adjacent the edgeof flange I1 and as viewed in the left hand side of Fig. 1. However, dueto the relationship of the forward or outer portion of the blowerwheeland the flange Il-or an equivalent edge-air flows inwardly betweensuch edge and the spider I2 of the blower wheel, and

any tendency for a vacuum to be created is counteracted.

Casing I5 has an outlet duct I8 extending, for

structure should be such that the strip or panel .will remain in anyposition to which it has been indicated in dotted lines'in Fig. 1, oreven slightly beyond such position, the deector panels will l in effectfunction as continuations nof ring 22 to example, as illustrated in Fig.2. This duct, or

the easing, is formed with a series of openings I9 guided by louvers 20.These openings are preferably disposed in line with the bodies of bladesII and in that wall of the duct or casing which is nearest the fan I I.The louvers guarding such openings extend in such manner vthat a slot isdefined which has tapered end portions and a substantially constantwidth. course close the side edges of the openings and in this mannervopenings having the characteristics of venturi are furnished.

These openings may be furnished as substitutes for the particularrelationship of blower wheel and channel wall edges, etc., aforedescribed, or may be auxiliary thereto. Under certain conditions theopenings may be dispensed with, but in any event they will serve toprevent undesirable vacuum conditions arising. In this connection it isto be observed that air under high Velocity and pressure is flowing inmember or casing I5 and through duct I8. The air propelled by fan II is,of course, moving at lower velocity. Normally, if an opening wereprovided, anywhere in the blower housing or discharge duct, it wouldonly decrease the eiciency of the apparatus because air would beldischarged through such opening. However, by arranging the edges of theopening or openings in the manner afoie described, the reverse effect isaccomplished and air is drawn through these openings into member I5and/or duct I8. Thus, in`- cident to the shape of the openings, the highvelocity with which the air is moving is employed to create a vacuumimmediately adjacent the 'base of the venturi;,this vacuum beinginstantly broken by air flowing through the openings. 0f course, as aconsequence, the volume of air insidey the casing and duct is increased,but the velocity pressure is decreased. A valve 2I of any desired typemay be employed to control or divert the-discharge.

As afore noted, wall I6 is preferably inclined. Accordingly, theexterior surface of this wall being in line with the most efficientportions of blades II (the outer one-third of the blades) this divertair vforwardly and outwardly. If swung to a greater extent the path ofthe deflected air will be more nearlyradial. If one or more of thedeflector strips is brought to a position such as that shown in fulllines, a greater yvolume of air will be discharged through the spacesadjacent The louvers of which the stripsA or panels are in more or lessopen position.' Thus, it is obvious that the operator may control withnicety exactly the volume and direction of flow which may be desired andsuch control may, of course, be even further varied by decreasing orincreasing the speed of motor 8. 'With all panels closed and the motoroperating, air which is sucked through the core by both the fan and theblower wheel will have to escape through the channel member or casingI5. In this manner the volume of air delivered through duct I8 isincreased to a material extent and any defrosting of the windshieldand/or heating of an area with which duct I8 connects is accelerated.

From the foregoing it will be understood that among others the severalobjects of the inventions specifically afore noted are achieved.Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of theparts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention as dened by-the claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent'is:

1. An apparatus `of the character described, includingyin combinationwaheat transfer core, a motor shaft disposed to "the rear of the same,

a blower wheel secured to said shaft, a casing surface will cause a flowof air rearwardly and this airj will be deflected into a transverselycurved ring 22 which, as shown, may be continued to an extent such thatit would normally cause a reverse air flow towards the core and beyondthe side ledges of the same.

Usually a unit of this character will be rectangular and such a unit hasaccordingly been illustrated. Of course, if another configuration wereemployed, the hereinafter described control could be amplified ormodified-as desired. Such control preferably includes a series of panelsor strips 23 each having their inner edges pivotally.

supported as at 24 by the ring. This supporting including .wallsenclosing said wheel, a duct also including walls extending from saidcasing walls certain of said casing and duct walls extendingsubstantially adjacent 'said core, and one of said latter walls beingprovided with an opening and said blower wheel drawing air through saidcore and discharging such air into said casing and duct, said openingpermitting auxiliary air toflow .into said duct.

2. An apparatus of the character described including, in combination, aheat transfer core, a motor shaft disposed to the rear cf the same, ablower wheel secured to said shaft, a casing enclosing said wheel, aduct extending from said casing and forming a part thereof, said casingbeing provided with openings, a fan secured to said shaft, said fan andblower wheel both functioning to draw air through .said core and t0distribute the same within said casing and duct, said casing openin sbeing arranged in line with said fan, air entering throughv saidopenings and supplementing the flow of air through said duct.

3. An apparatus of the,y character described including, in combination,a heat transfer core, a motor shaft disposed to the rear of the same. ablower wheel secured to'said shaft, a casing enclosing said wheel, aduct extending from said casing and forming a part thereof, said casingbeing provided with an opening in the duct wall nearest the core and inproximity to the periphery of the fan, said fan and blower wheel drawingair through said core, and louvers disposed adjacent said opening anddefining in conjunction With the edge of the casing opening a Venturipassage.

4. A heat exchange structure including a core, a motor shaft disposedadjacent the same, a blower wheel coupled to `said shaft, a casingenclosing said wheel and including a forward wall formed with anopening, a duct extending from said casing, the diameter of said blowerwheel being less than that of the casing opening, and said duct beingformed with an opening in its wall which extends in closest proximity tosaid core and through which air is drawn into said duct.`

5. A heat exchange structure including a core; .a motor shaft disposedadjacent the same. a

blower wheel coupled to said shaft, a casing enclosing said wheel andincluding a forward wall formed with van opening, a duct extending fromsaid casing, the edges of said blower wheel and casing opening beingspaced, said duct being formed .with openings in its wall which extendsin closest proximity to said coreA and through which air is drawn intosaid duct, and `a fan also coupled to said motor shaft and disposedbeyond such Wall to impel air towards said lblower wheel and the ductopenings.

6. An apparatus of the character described,

including a heat transfer core, -a motor shaft disposed to the rear ofthe same, a fan secured to said shaft to draw air through said core anddistribute the same rearwardly, means for defiecting the air sodistributed in a direction substantially radial to said core, a blowerwheel also connected to said shaft, a casing enclosing said blowerwheel, a duct extending from said casing, and independently controllableelements framing said fan and movabl'y connected to said apparatus togovern the radial ow of air as induced by said fan and to vary theamount of air distributed by said blower Wheel, said' elements beingshiftable to cause the radially ow-v ing air `to be ydiverted toward andbeyond the edges of said core.

7. An apparatus of the character described, including a heat transfercore, a motor shaft, a blower wheel mounted `by said motor shaft to drawair through said core and .distribute the same, a casing forsaid wheeland being formed with an opening in that wall of its body which extendssubstantially adjacent said core, the edges of such opening defining aVenturi passage through which air is drawn into said casing incident tothe ow of air therethrough and as induced by said blower wheel.

CARL E, MEYERHOEFER.

